The Blue Raiders track teams have always enjoyed a lot of success at the Vanderbilt Invitational.

Last season Orlando Reid won both the 100- and 200-meters, Stephanie Tamgho finished first in the long jump and Sarah Nambawa placed first in the triple jump while the men's 4x100-meter relay was also victorious.

Two years ago Middle Tennessee's track teams posted nine event victories at Vandy. For the women, Antranette Stringer won the 200, Candice Robertson was first in the 100-meter hurdles and Tamgho posted a first-place finish in the triple jump. On the men's side, Orlando Reid won the 200, Sean Waller was first in the 400-meters and Linnie Yarbrough placed first in the 110-meter hurdles. Juan Walker also won the long jump and the men's 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay both placed first.

Former Blue Raider All-American Mardy Scales also set a then school-record in the 100-meters at this event in 2003.

"I think part of our success is because the kids can stay in their own bed the night before and it's close so their friends can come. It's just always been a good meet for us," head coach Dean Hayes said. "They can come and compete and then they can go home. They don't have to hang around all day. The facility is very nice and usually the weather is good. They know we've done well before and so they assume we'll get them again and we usually do.

"The other thing is, they know we're closing in on the end of the season and we're getting ready for the Sun Belt meet. That's a big factor as well," Hayes said.

The Sun Belt Championships are scheduled for May 9-11 in Denton, Texas, and the Blue Raiders have just one more weekend of preparation after the Vanderbilt meet.

Teams scheduled to participate this weekend include Alabama, Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Belmont, Bethel College, Central Florida, Clark-Atlanta, East Tennessee, Eastern Illinois, Fisk, Illinois State, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb, Memphis, Miami [OH], Montreat College, Rend Lake CC, Rhodes College, Saint Louis Univ., SIU-Edwardsville, Southern Illinois, Tennessee, Tennessee State, UAB, UT Martin, West Alabama and Western Kentucky.

Vanderbilt Invitational
Schedule of Events
Friday, April 18
Field Events
4 PM Men's Long Jump followed by Women's Long Jump
Women's Javelin followed by Men's Javelin
Men's Shot Put followed by Women's Shot Put
Men's Pole Vault

Running Events
5:30 PM 200-meters Women followed by Men
6:30 PM 1500-meters Men
7 PM 1500-meters Women
7:30 PM 3000-meter steeplechase Men
7:45 PM 3000-meter steeplechase Women
8 PM 5000-meters Men
8:20 PM 5000-meters Women
8:45 PM 3000-meters Men
9 PM 3000-meters Women

Saturday, April 19
Field Events
9:30 AM Women's Hammer followed by Men's Hammer
Noon Women's Pole Vault
Women's Triple Jump followed by Men's Triple Jump
Men's High Jump followed by Women's High Jump
1 PM Women's Discus followed by Men's Discus

Running Events
Noon 4x100-meter relay Women
12:10 PM 4x100-meter relay Men
12:20 PM 100-meter hurdles
12:35 PM 110-meter hurdles
12:50 PM 400-meters Women
1:10 PM 400-meters Men
1:30 PM 100-meters Women
1:50 PM 100-meters Men
2:10 PM 800-meters Women
2:35 PM 800-meters Men
2:55 PM 400-meter hurdles Women
3:15 PM 400-meter hurdles Men
3:30 PM 4x400-meter relay Women
3:45 PM 4x400-meter relay Men

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